News

Marlborough, Mass., August 30, 2012 – Sunovion Pharmaceuticals Inc. (Sunovion) today announced that it has signed a definitive agreement (“Agreement”) to acquire Elevation Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Elevation), a privately held biopharmaceutical company specializing in the development of new aerosol therapies for patients with respiratory diseases. The acquisition includes Elevation Pharmaceuticals’ EP-101 product, an inhalation solution of a long-acting muscarinic antagonist (LAMA) bronchodilator that is in Phase 2b clinical trials for the treatment of patients with moderate to severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

According to the terms of the agreement, Sunovion will make an upfront payment of US$100 million to the shareholders of Elevation on closing of the acquisition of its shares, and thereafter it will make development milestone payments for EP-101 up to US$90 million. Furthermore, after the regulatory approval, Sunovion will also make commercial milestone payments up to US$210 million. Subsequent milestone payments up to $30 million could occur contingent upon the successive development of additional new programs.

“The acquisition of Elevation Pharmaceuticals will further strengthen and diversify our respiratory pipeline and portfolio, and enable Sunovion to continue to meet the needs of people living with respiratory diseases and the healthcare providers who treat them,” said Hiroshi Nomura, Vice Chair of Sunovion Pharmaceuticals Inc.

“Nebulized medicine is an important treatment option for older and sicker patients -- the fastest growing segment within COPD,” observes Bill Gerhart, Founder and CEO of Elevation Pharmaceuticals. “Sunovion is the ideal sponsor to realize our original vision to significantly elevate the standard of care for this underserved patient population.”

The boards of both Sunovion and Elevation have approved the transaction and Agreement; however the acquisition is subject to customary closing conditions.